Starkville Academy beats rival Heritage

August 27, 2011

COLUMBUS â€“ The Starkville Academy Volunteers were able to withstand an early deficit against Heritage Academy Friday night and scored 33 unanswered points to take a 33-7 victory against their rival from Lowndes County.
With the win, the Volunteers improved their record to 2-0.
"Well, it's just a big win for our program and we're all real excited about it," Starkville Academy coach Jeff Terrill said.
After the homestanding Patriots were able to recover a fumble and score to jump out to a 7-0 advantage, the Vols scored a pair of first-half touchdowns on an 11-yard run by quarterback Drew Pellum and a 1-yard run by Ryan Mann to take a 12-7 lead at halftime.
"Heritage was able to recover a fumble on a pooched punt and were able to line it up and stick it in, but our defense played really solid from that point on," Terrill said. "Once again, we were very physical up front.
"We were able to get two big turnovers in the second half and were able to turn those turnovers into points."
Mann finished the game with 110 yards rushing on 19 carries and two touchdowns.
In the second half, Mann had a 9-yard run for a score, while Pellum added a pair of 1-yard scoring runs.
Pellum also had a good rushing game for SA with 99 yards on 17 carries, while Colby Runnels added 83 yards on the ground on 15 attempts.
Defensively, Brandon Sharp had a pair of interceptions for the Vols and Taylor Hunt also picked off a pass. Stephen Roberson had a fumble recovery.
Roberson, Mann and Angus Catchot were credited with having a key defensive effort for SA, which plays Magnolia Heights at home next Friday.